New lawsuit in fight over water in Utah's Albion Basin

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A long-standing legal battle between a property owner, Salt Lake City and the Town of Alta over water service is entering a new round of litigation.

Mark and Raymond Haik filed a 115-page complaint, with more than 50 different exhibit attachments, in U.S. District Court that alleges Salt Lake City and the Town of Alta conspired and engaged in misrepresentation and fraud in declining to provide water service to four lots they own in the Albion Basin Subdivision.

The dispute has moved between state and federal courts since 1996; in 1997, a federal judge ruled against the Haiks. Meantime, they continued a lengthy fight with Alta, Salt Lake City and other government entities to gain access to public records.

That fight turned up documents earlier this year that the Haiks say show information was withheld from the court during their first federal lawsuit and also prove they were wrongfully denied water connections. The complaint asks the court to vacate its earlier ruling in the case and enjoin Salt Lake City from future denials that are unconstitutional. It also seeks monetary damages and attorneys fees.